Non-covered services bill passes Indiana Senate

Other dental bills await hearings in coming weeks

2/7/2013

The bill that would prohibit Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) from setting fees for dental services not covered in their policies has passed through the Indiana Senate and is awaiting a House committee hearing.

Senate Bill 208 (SB 208), "Non-Covered Dental Services," passed with a 34-15 vote and will now proceed to the Indiana House. IDA member Dr. Denny Zent, who now serves as the 51st District Representative in the Indiana House (R-Angola), will serve alongside Rep. Suzanne Crouch (R-Evansville) to author the House measure to advance the bill.

SB 208 advanced out of the Senate following testimony from Dr. John Roberts, IDA President; Dr. David Austin, IDA member and Indiana AIR participant; and IDA Executive Director Doug Bush during a Senate Health Provider Services Committee hearing on January 30. Significant participation of other IDA members interacting with their legislators through the IDA's legislative alerts service also provided critical momentum for the bill.

SB 590, another IDA-supported bill still awaits a Senate committee hearing. The bill includes amendment of language in the Indiana Dental Practice Act, regulating corporate dental office ownership, and preserving funding for Indiana's Donated Dental Services program. The IDA will also work to advance the Board of Trustees' position to oppose a bill that would allow dentists with a valid anesthesia permit to supervise Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists.

The IDA will closely monitor all legislative activities and report to members through legislative alerts and the biweekly IDA Update.

To interact directly with your legislators about current dental legislation, sign up for IDA Legislative Alerts (click here).